PWD groups laud Kano information commissioner, urge immediate take-off of disability commission
Kola Oyelere Kano
Disability advocacy groups in Kano State have commended the state’s Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, for his inclusive engagement with persons with disabilities (PWDs), while urging the state government to expedite the implementation and take-off of the Kano State Disability Commission.
In a press statement issued and signed by the leadership of various PWD associations in the state, the groups also praised Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for what they described as his commitment to inclusive governance and the welfare of persons with disabilities.
The statement was endorsed by the Chairman of the PWDs Association in Kano State and cluster heads of various disability groups, including the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Spinal Cord Injuries Association, National Association of the Blind, Lepers Association, Albinism Association, Deaf Association and the Physically Challenged Association
The associations said Waiya’s consistent engagement with disability groups had strengthened confidence among members of the disability community and reflected the administration’s commitment to social justice and equal participation in governance.
Despite the commendation, the groups expressed concern over what they described as the poor relationship between disability organisations and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Persons with Disabilities.
According to the statement, the ministry’s current approach does not adequately reflect Governor Yusuf’s vision of promoting the welfare, dignity, empowerment and inclusion of persons with disabilities, warning that the situation could undermine the objectives for which the ministry was established.
The associations alleged that they had repeatedly submitted complaints to relevant authorities over what they termed inadequate engagement and poor treatment of disability groups.
They cited the recent distribution of Eid sacrificial cows donated by the governor, alleging that the items were distributed to selected individuals based on personal affiliations rather than through recognised disability leadership structures, as had been the practice in the past.
The groups said the development generated dissatisfaction within the disability community.
They identified key challenges facing persons with disabilities in the state to include the lack of recognition of disability organisations, poor stakeholder engagement, marginalisation of representative bodies in government programmes, and exclusion from welfare distribution and policy implementation.
The associations maintained that these challenges were inconsistent with the governor’s commitment to inclusive governance and social protection for vulnerable groups.
They called on the Kano State Government to establish a high-powered committee to facilitate the implementation and operationalisation of the Kano State Disability Commission, noting that similar commissions already exist in several states across the country.
According to the groups, the commission would provide a dedicated framework for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, coordinating interventions, promoting accountability and ensuring effective implementation of disability-inclusive policies.
The associations reaffirmed their commitment to working with the Kano State Government to advance the rights, welfare and development of persons with disabilities.